Understand
Teenagers question West Midlands police chief over safety and knife crime
Overview
The new chief constable of West Midlands Police, Scott Green, and Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster faced questions from young people at The Way youth centre in Wolverhampton regarding youth safety, knife crime, and police trust. While highlighting a 20% drop in serious youth violence over three and a half years, officials acknowledged that more work is needed on early intervention, community trust, and safety at major events like Birmingham's Christmas market.
Key points
- West Midlands Police reported a 20% drop in serious youth violence and knife-enabled robbery over the past three and a half years.
- During a session with young people at The Way youth centre in Wolverhampton, none of the roughly 20 attendees raised their hands to show they trusted the police.
- Chief Constable Scott Green acknowledged that black men are still 2.1 times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people in the region, down from 2.9 times previously.
- Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster highlighted prevention and the work of the Violence Reduction Partnership as key to steering youth away from crime.
- Officials also addressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence and misinformation on policing and the legal system.